Mum saves toddler after training

A Gloucestershire mum came to the rescue of her
young daughter when she stopped breathing just days after learning
about resuscitation skills during a St John Ambulance training
course.

Georgina Gray began chest compressions and breathing techniques
on 23-month-old Ruby Butler when she suddenly stopped
breathing and her lips turned blue at their home in
Newtown, Tewkesbury.

Georgina had attended a one-day Emergency aid for appointed
persons course at one of the charity's training centres in
Link Road as part of her job in the accounts department at
Alno Products, based on the Cotteswold Dairy Estate.

Doctors think she had a virus of some sort but they said she wouldn't be here today if I hadn't done what I did.

Georgina Gray

The course teaches basic first aid and workplace health and
safety regulations but trainer Ann Kerr gave an additional
demonstration about resuscitation for children and infants at the
end of the course after participants asked about the skills.

42-year-old Georgina said that without that knowledge her
daughter could have died. She praised the charity
and said everyone should learn some basic first aid.

She said: 'I had gone along to the course with a colleague and
we had learnt a lot about first aid for adults, Ann made it so
interesting. We asked Ann at the end about how you would deal with
a child and she showed us, going into great detail.

'I never imagined that I'd need to put that into action just two
days later. Ruby hadn't been very well in the morning and I said to
Gary (her partner) that her lips had gone blue. Then her eyes
rolled back in her head and she stopped breathing.

'We called an ambulance and the controller was telling us what
to do and what Ann had shown us started to come back to me. I
realised I remembered what she had told us about how many chest
compressions to do and Ruby started breathing again.

'An ambulance came and she was taken to hospital. Doctors think
she had a virus of some sort but they said she wouldn't be here
today if I hadn't done what I did.'

Ruby is now back home with Georgina and dad Gary and is
back to full health, looking forward to her second
birthday next month.

Georgina said she would urge anyone to learn first aid skills
after her experience: 'It really shook me up at first but I am so
glad I knew what to do. I was so fresh in my memory because I'd
only done the course two days before but I do intend to make sure I
keep my skills up to date now because I never know when I may need
them.'

St John Ambulance trainer Ann Kerr said: 'I am delighted that
Georgina was able to put what she had learnt to help Ruby. It just
goes to show that you never know when you may need first aid
skills.

'It can take just a matter of hours to learn what you need to
save somebody's life and I would encourage everyone – whether for
their home life, work or activities they're involved in – to take
the time to do a first aid course.'